Bowel technique in the O.R. Is it really necessary?

Existing inconsistencies in the practice of bowel technique prompted a study to validate this operating room procedure. Minimal reference to intra-operative bowel technique was found in the literature. Needle drivers and tissue forceps utilized to anastomose large bowel were cultured, and the results were analysed. Needle drivers and tissue forceps used to anastomose small bowel were also cultured and used as a control group. Only elective bowel surgery cases were included in the study. The study demonstrated that there was consistent contamination to those instruments used for bowel anastomosis, with significantly greater contamination for large bowel resections. These results indicate that isolating those instruments and equipment which come into direct contact with the bowel lumen is a perioperative practice which will reduce the surgical patient's risk of postoperative wound infection.